Thanks, I found the list of pregnancy registries:

http://www.fda.gov/womens/registries/registries.html

I find it interesting that only Lamictal (lamotrigine) and Wellbutrin, Wellbutrin SR and Zyban (bupropion) are in there for psychiatric drugs. Both are GSK products. Missing is Paxil (paroxetine).

No I dont have a copy of the test, I do plan of getting my hands on a copy. A young pregnant woman cited to me some of the questions that were on the so called screening test and it sure sounded quite similar to the infamous “Teenscreen”. Isnt it wonderful to know that our hard earned NJ taxpayer dollars are going to a program that could possibly have an 84% failure rate!!

The NJ Starledger reported today that 1 in 11 NJ residents goes to bed hungry, but yet we can spend 76 million dollars to drug infants and toddlers before they go to bed!!

What’s this “pregnancy registry” that you spoke of? Never heard of it.

The MedWatch reports do not identify the State, only the Reporter Country (which is often not reported).

I am sure that there is an effort underway to redefine “postpartum depression” to mean “perinatal depression” (5 months before to 1 year after delivery). See http://www.womenshealth.gov/faq/depression-pregnancy.cfm (touting itself as “The Federal Government Source for Women’s Health Information”) which used to blatantly state only a few months ago: “Limited research suggests that many women with perinatal depression improve when treated with anti-depressant medicine. Your doctor can help you learn more about these options and decide which approach is best for you and your baby …”

But now has been revised to couch the apparent agenda in less overt terms:

“How common is depression during and after pregnancy?” … “Depression is a common problem during and after pregnancy.”

“How is depression treated?” … “Medicine. Your doctor can prescribe an antidepressant medicine. These medicines can help relieve symptoms of depression. If you are depressed, your depression can affect your baby. Getting treatment is important for you and your baby. Talk with your doctor about the benefits and risks of taking medicine to treat depression when you are pregnant or breastfeeding.”

The intra-uterine deaths, stillbirths, spontaneous abortions (miscarriages) and devastating birth defects that have been reported to the FDA on mothers taking a psychiatric drug during pregnancy would seem to make the practice foolhardy in the extreme, but that’s the agenda they appear to be pushing. And if the perinatal depression test is as “foolproof” as TeenScreen’s with its 84% false positive result, well …

Do you happen to have a copy of the test?

You make a good point. Big companies will aways find a way to get data. Rather than spending so much effort on getting rid of IMS data, States should be using this data to uncover fraud, drug diversion, and illegal prescription practices.

A few years ago, I reveiwed IMS data for a Dr. in PA, who was writing over 1,000 prescriptions for Oxcontin every month. Shortly thereafter he was arrested in some other state. He had a large amount of cash, numerous prescription pads, and a gun in his car. He was indicted and convicted, and is probably still in prison.

Small child has diagnosis of ADHD and is prescribed Ritalin, the child then suffers depression as a side effect, the child is then prescribed an antidepressant which causes the child to have suicidal thoughts and become manic or psychotic. In many cases the child suffers both. Then the Doc prescribes an antipsychotic and mood stabilizers. Comorbid diagnosis is the outcome of Polypharmacy!!!

Dr. Laughren should be one of those who should be fired immediately, with NO PENSION. Have you ever seen him at a public hearing, staring down at his knees? Hurry up, Obama.

It is beyond belief that these drugs do not have black box warnings. They do for seniors with dementia, a use which is not approved on label.

As for Zyprexa (son dead ) and Lamictal(daughter almost dead) where are the black box warnings for these for general use as well as pediatric use.? I guess the only hope is a new president who is not in bed with pharma; not controlling the FDA.

ADHD is highly comorbid with other disorders that occur later in life. 60% of the drug use here is in children less than 12. We cannot be certain of accurate diagnoses especially in this age group as the symptoms early on may not be easily distinguishable from ADHD. Plus why even use it in children when it isn’t even used for these indications in adults except that they’re more expensive ($400 - $500) / month AWP.